Even the embers warm

Univ. of Illinois Campus Y bonfire

If we move our chairs and logs

Close enough.  The flames

Began roaring, jumping

High above our heads

As balsam branches, pines

Burned first furiously.

…

Reflections off glasses,

Earrings, flash like the stars

Above in the moonless night.*

Two kites, tethered, can be heard,

Not seen, above the prairie.

…

Marshmallows ignite if held too long

Near the glowing coals

S’Mores give a sugar rush

After the tangy stuffed mushrooms.

No one can remember a ghost story

Or campfire song. The troubles

Of Job are all forgotten

As the sparks fly upward.

* In the photo there is a moon. This was photo-shopped out in the poem–poetic license.God seems to have chosen to have the Bible written this way, also;  some things were omitted (or added) for the sake of the form or sound of the poem or story.

– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Dec. 1, 2012

The photograph is of University of Illinois students who were engaged in service projects at the oldest student organization, the University Y (1873), where Steve served as Executive Director.